MERTHYR v Shortwood

Updates here!

Cutlan, Thomas, A Griffiths, Rewbury, Colbourne, Harris, Newman, Jones, Welsh, M Griffiths, Traylor. Subs: Prosser, Preen, Williams

good luck lads

H/t 0-0

Sub at half time: Marcus Griffiths off and Preen on

How have we looked? ..

1 up Traylor looked like handball just before he scored

1 up Traylor 58mins. A good finish with a couple of defenders around him lobbing the keeper, ball hitting home just under the crossbar.

70th min sub. Jones off and Williams oñ

2-0! Traylor with his brace 77mins. Tap-in at far post following good by Prosser.

2-1 85mins. Pouring with rain...

94th minute - Prosser has ball in the net - offside!

F/t 2-1. Phew! £4k in the bank.

wtg lads well done

thanks for the updates

Nice to see the home results picking up

Strange game, it didn't really come to life until we were winning 2-0 when Shortwood decided that they at least attempt to try and score!

Appeared to be played at a subdued pace in the first half and although we had more possession there was no cutting edge up front.

After Traylor scored his second we were in control of the game but despite defending well we gave a sloppy goal away to provide a glimmer of hope that Shortwood could salvage something and force the match into extra time.

Garyn Preen and Prosser created quite a few problems in the final quarter of the game as we thoroughly deserved to progress to the next round.

Based on their performance tonight it's difficult to see just how Shortwood managed to win at Weymouth in the last round?

Tonight's team:-

Cutlan;
Thomas,Rewbury,Colborne,A.Griffiths;
Jones,Harris,Newman;
M.Griffiths,Welsh,Traylor:

Subs:
Preen for M.Griffiths at half time
Williams for Jones after about 70 minutes
Prosser for Welsh after about 75 minutes

With various players unfit or unavailable we had Andrew Thomas at right back in a 4-3-3.

After about 8 minutes a long free kick by Marcus Griffiths from out on the right was headed wide by Jason Welsh. About 5 minutes later there was a good combination between Luke Jones and Ryan Newman on the edge of the area, but the latter was tackled out of it before he could get a shot away.

In the first 25 minutes or so neither keeper had much more to do than one routine save each, although we'd done almost all of the attacking.

A rare Shortwood attack on about 28 minutes down the left ended with a shot which just missed the far top corner.

We seemed to run out of ideas towards the end of the half, and with almost their only attack Shortwood had probably come the closest to scoring of either side in the first half.

At half time Garyn Preen replaced Marcus Griffiths in a straight swap.

After an opening to the half that was similar to the end of the first half we took the lead on about 58 minutes. A long ball forward found Ian Traylor who chested the ball down amid appeals for handball from Shortwood before lobbing it over the keeper from 25 yards.

We nearly made it 2-0 about 6 minutes later following a free kick into the box when the keeper tipped a shot from Jamie Rewbury onto the bar.

With about 20 minutes to go Steve Williams became the first player to reach the 100 appearance mark for the new Merthyr Town when he replaced Luke Jones in midfield. 5 minutes later Ryan Prosser came on for Jason Welsh.

We went further ahead after about 78 minutes with an attack down the right involving Matthew Harris and Ryan Prosser. When the ball came back to him Prosser fired it across goal for Ian Traylor to have an easy job to shoot home from 6 yards.

After about 80 minutes Giles Cutlan was in serious action for about the first time when he had to come out quickly at the feet of an attacker. 3 minutes after that it was almost a hat-trick for Ian Traylor when he put in a 20-yard shot which the keeper just scooped past the post.

With about 5 minutes to go Shortwood pulled a goal back when an attacker stepped past a challenge close to goal on the right and put a shot across Cutlan. But apart from one or two slightly nervous moments we were able to see out the game OK. We were well worth the win, and 2-1 rather flattered Shortwood

Disappointing attendance of only 193. Presumably the FA Trophy is failing to capture people's interest, plus the usual evening kick-off effect. Perhaps we'll do better on a Saturday in the next round.

Have to say Ian Traylor was man of the match, although Jamie Rewbury and Gary Colborne looked solid at the back. First time I've had a good luck at Garyn Preen, and he did seem more of a winger than a striker. He put over a good cross at one point, although there was no-one on the end of it, and tried a good shot from a narrow angle on the right, which may have been nearer than it first looked.

Still think we could do with another striker.Newport have just released jake harris well worth us taking a look

I hear Harris may be going to a BSP club. A couple are interested. He is full-time with Newport and will probably want to stay so. He lives in Weston but don't think he is going back to play for them.

I think we have a number of forwards who are only now starting to come good at this level or who have been struggling for fitness. If there is a free agent who fits the bill, then fine, but otherwise I think we need to keep faith in the players we have. Last night we always looked more likely to score than we have done in many home games this season.

Good win last night. Now come on lads beat Tonbridge in the next round. Some rather disparaging and illjudged comments on their forum.

http://www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,9414.0.html

I've tried but can't get this can u summarise what was said Gordon.. Thanks

I've seen it now,I was stationed in Kent nearly 50 yrs ago some nice people some not so nice same as anywhere.hopefully the boys will do their talking on the Pitch its not worth a slanging match.......THEY DID HAVE SOME NICE GIRLS DOWN THERE IN THOSE FAR OFF DAYS OF ROCK N ROLL

Bloody typical R.R.Keep to the football,well played last night lads.